Compare towns
Marshfield vs Mashpee vs Dedham vs Burlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marshfield has the most people working from home (24.8%).
Mashpee has the oldest population (median age 55.9).
Dedham has the youngest population (median age 44.6).
Burlington has the highest household income ($146k).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Marshfield | Mashpee | Dedham | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,879 |
15,384Lowest |
25,237 |
26,274Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.6 15% above MA |
55.9±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
45.9±2.2 15% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
17.1%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Marshfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.1%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4% MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
58.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,986±$8k 21% above MA |
$95,299±$13kLowest 8% below MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$146,436±$14kHighest 41% above MA |
| Burlington and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $680,300±$27k 21% above MA |
$562,200±$29kLowest about the MA average |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$740,600±$35kHighest 32% above MA |
| Burlington and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,772±$123Lowest about the MA average |
$1,776±$330 about the MA average |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,656 11% above MA |
$3,762Lowest 37% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,165 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.7%±14.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
50.4%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Marshfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8% MA: 62.5% |
81.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 24.8%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.5%±3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Marshfield and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #54 of 282 in MA | #100 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #83 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marshfield | Mashpee | Dedham | Burlington |
| High school in town | Marshfield High | Mashpee Middle-High School | Dedham High | Burlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
9.6Lowest |
10.4 |
11.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.